Lexical Definition
אֲבִיהַיִל ʼĂbîyhayil (ab-ee-hah'-yil) Abihail N:N-M-P
or (more correctly) אֲבִיחַיִל ʼĂbîychayil (ab-ee-khah'-yil) ; from אָב and חַיִל; father (i.e. possessor) of might
Abihail.
- § Abihail = "my father is might"
- Abihail or Abichail, the name of three Israelites and two Israelitesses
1) a Levite in Moses's time
2) a Gadite
3) father of Esther
4) wife of Abishur
5) wife of Rehoboam
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| אֲבִיהַ֕יִל | Abihail | 2Chr.11.18 |
Extended Information
- A woman of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ch.11.18
- daughter of: Eliab (אֱלִיאָב); married to Jerimoth (יְרִימוֹת)
- mother of: Mahalath (מַחֲלַת)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִיחַ֫יִל proper name, masculine & feminine (my father is might, Sabean אבחיל HalMA 234) — probably = אֲבִיהַיִל 2Chr 11:18, אֲבִיהָ֑יִל 1Chr 2:29 —
1. a Levite Num 3:25.
2. a Gadite 1Chr 5:14.
3. father of Esther Esth 2:15; Esth 9:29.
4. wife of Abishur 1Chr 2:29.
5. wife of Rehoboam 2Chr 11:18.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 3:25 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:29 · 5:14 |
| 2 Chronicles | 11:18 |
| Esther | 2:15 · 9:29 |
Profile
Female • Daughter of Eliab • Mother of Rehoboam's wife Mahalath
Woman living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Abihail was the mother of Mahalath, who was one of King Rehoboam's wives and the daughter of David's son Jerimoth.
- A woman from the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ch.11.18;
- only referred to as Abihail אֲבִיהַיִל;
- a daughter of Eliab אֱלִיאָב;
- wife of Jerimoth יְרִימוֹת;
- mother of Mahalath מַחֲלַת.
Abihail is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 11:18 as the mother of Mahalath, who became one of King Rehoboam's wives. Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the first king of the southern kingdom of Judah after the division of the united monarchy. Mahalath's father was Jerimoth, one of David's sons.
The marriage of Rehoboam to Mahalath was likely a political alliance, as it strengthened Rehoboam's connection to the Davidic dynasty.
All entries for Abihail: אֲבִיהַיִל